A PGA TOUR EVENT WITH A SWIMMING POOL?

We know that Las Vegas is a place where "trendiness" is vitally important. But now organizers of the PGA Tour's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open are embracing at least some of the over-the-top kitsch for which Las Vegas is notorious well-known.

This year's event (October 13-19) will include an area called the Zappos Fan Experience, to include six swimming pools (with lifeguards and security personnel) and a 9-hole miniature golf course. The six pools will be spread between the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes at TPC Summerlin. The attraction is designed to be family-friendly, while embracing a concept known as the "day club experience."

Most people have heard of night clubs, but some of us work for a living and don't go to bars and strip clubs, gamble what little money we actually have, spend our lives partying, or "marvel" at the horrendously ridiculous music-and-water fountain show at Bellagio. Your humble correspondent had never even heard of the concept of a "day club" until this very morning. Therefore, a little research was necessary.

This led me to an article by Susan Breslow Sardone, who has apparently made a career out of being About Travel's "Honeymoons/Romantic Travel Expert":

"Although the day club concept may not have originated in Las Vegas, the city certainly has refined and elaborated upon the idea of creating a pool party atmosphere that combines sun, cabanas, loud music, booze, and revelers around shallow swimming pools wearing as little as possible.

"As with a nightclub, day club attendees must be a certain age to be admitted and proof is required as alcohol is served on the premises. Typically there is a cover charge. DJs keep the music loud and current and dealers keep the games going and the chips circulating."

At any rate, the (take a deep breath) Shriners Hospitals for Children Open's "day club" concept of swimming pools and mini-golf is apparently not going to disrupt the tournament. This seems appropriate since we're talking about a professional golf tournament — one that benefits hospitals for children.